What to do in Kyoto Prefecture

Activities, attractions and tours

A pathway flanked by tall green bamboo stalks.
A traditional Japanese temple with red and white structures, surrounded by lush greenery and a crowd of visitors.
A busy indoor public space with multiple levels, escalators, and glass railings.
A traditional Japanese building with a tiled roof, wooden beams, and a small balcony.
Wooden containers with numbered labels, filled with various items like chopsticks, keys, and small decorative objects.

Things to do

Kyoto/Osaka: Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya & Miyama Day Tour

Kyoto/Osaka: Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya & Miyama Day Tour

£37
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Kyoto/Osaka: Amanohashidate & Ine Funaya & Miyama Day Tour
Historical Nara & Kyoto Morning Bus Tour

Historical Nara & Kyoto Morning Bus Tour

£55
per adult
Historical Nara & Kyoto Morning Bus Tour
Kyoto: Kimono, Tea Ceremony with Japanese Garden and Studio

Kyoto: Kimono, Tea Ceremony with Japanese Garden and Studio

£11
per adult
Kyoto: Kimono, Tea Ceremony with Japanese Garden and Studio
Kyoto Top Four Highlights Day Trip from Osaka or Kyoto

Kyoto Top Four Highlights Day Trip from Osaka or Kyoto

£43
per adult
98% of travellers recommend
Kyoto Top Four Highlights Day Trip from Osaka or Kyoto
Kyoto & Nara & Uji: Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Osaka or Kyoto

Kyoto & Nara & Uji: Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Osaka or Kyoto

£43
per adult
94% of travellers recommend
Kyoto & Nara & Uji: Full Day Sightseeing Tour from Osaka or Kyoto
Kyoto Gion Kimono Rental with Optional Photo Session

Kyoto Gion Kimono Rental

£20
per adult
Kyoto Gion Kimono Rental
Kyoto 5-Star Geisha Night Walk: Small-Group Authentic Experience

Kyoto 5-Star Geisha Night Walk: Small-Group Authentic Experience

£88
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Kyoto 5-Star Geisha Night Walk: Small-Group Authentic Experience
Eikando Temple Kyoto Kimono Rental with Hair Styling Experience

Eikando Temple Kyoto Kimono Rental with Hair Styling Experience

£25
per adult
Eikando Temple Kyoto Kimono Rental with Hair Styling Experience
Kyoto One Day Sightseeing Tour from Osaka or Kyoto

Kyoto One Day Sightseeing Tour from Osaka or Kyoto

£42
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Kyoto One Day Sightseeing Tour from Osaka or Kyoto
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Top places to visit

1. Kiyomizu Temple

Nestled in the Otowa Mountain, to the east of central Kyōto, the Buddhist temple of Kiyomizu is one of the city’s most popular attractions, attracting millions of visitors each year. The current temple buildings date from the 15th to 17th centuries, but there has been a temple here since 778.
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A traditional Japanese temple complex with autumn foliage, a prominent pagoda, and wooden walkways.

2. Nishiki Market

Traditional Japanese food is the order of the day in the Nishiki Market, known as Kyoto’s Kitchen. The market plays host to hundreds of restaurants, shops and temporary stalls selling culinary supplies from fresh seafood to knives. Shops sell either food or utensils with which to prepare it. A stark contrast to the serene and humble temples, shrines and museums, Nishiki Market is the perfect place to experience the typical hustle and bustle of food trade at the core of Kyoto.
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A bustling indoor market with various shops and stalls.

3. Fushimi Inari Shrine

The Fushimi Inari Shrine was founded in 711 and is the head shrine for the 40,000 shrines to Inari, goddess of rice and prosperity, in Japan. Worshippers come here to ask for wealth and success in business, and travelers come to enjoy the beauty and history of the area.
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A red torii gate with stone lion statues on either side, leading to a shrine with a red roof.

4. Nijō Castle

Nijo Castle is a testament to the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo period (1603-1868). The castle was the stronghold of the family who essentially controlled Japan during this time, leaving the emperor to rule in name only. To create a defence against enemies, the castle was built with two palaces, two stone walls and two moats.
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A traditional Japanese building with a stone wall and a canal reflecting the structure.

5. Kinkaku-ji Temple

Of all the temples you’ll see in Kyōto, this one is perhaps the most breathtaking. Also known as “Kinkaku-ji,” the Temple of the Golden Pavilion’s top two floors are coated in gold leaf, creating a dazzling mirror image in the pond on which it’s built.
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A traditional Japanese temple surrounded by a tranquil pond, with reflections of the structure and surrounding trees.

6. Kyoto Tower

The steel Kyoto Tower stands 430 feet (131 meters) high, making it the tallest in the city. Built on top of a nine-story building, the top part of the tower is supposed to resemble a Japanese-style candle. It can be seen from all over Kyoto, which makes it an attractive meeting point.
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A cityscape at dusk with a prominent tower, modern buildings, and a well-lit train station.

What to do in Kyoto Prefecture

Stay near popular Kyoto Prefecture attractions

A traditional Japanese temple complex with autumn foliage, a prominent pagoda, and wooden walkways.
Photo by JNTO
Open Photo by JNTO

Kiyomizu Temple

9.0/10 (8,712 reviews)
Constructed entirely without nails and built on high poles, this temple is part of a World Heritage Site and offers visitors both beauty and history.
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Where to stay in Kyoto Prefecture

Find the best Kyoto Prefecture areas for the activities you enjoy most.
A serene pond surrounded by rocks and lush greenery.

Central Kyoto

Travellers love Central Kyoto for its popular shops, and you can see more of Kyoto by jumping on the metro at Imadegawa Station or Kuramaguchi Station. You might spend time checking out top sights like Kyoto Gyoen National Garden and Nijō Castle.

A traditional Japanese street with wooden buildings, red lanterns, and people walking.

Gion

Unique features of Gion include the monuments and shopping. Make a stop by Yasaka Shrine or Hanamikoji Street while you're exploring the area.

A cityscape at dusk with a prominent tower, modern buildings, and a well-lit train station.

Shimogyo Ward

Shimogyo Ward is highly notable for its popular shops, and you might want to visit top sights like Kyoto Railway Museum and Shijo Street. See more of Kyoto by jumping on the metro at Tanbaguchi Station or Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station.

A traditional Japanese pagoda with multiple tiers, surrounded by wooden buildings with tiled roofs.

Downtown Kyoto

While you're in Downtown Kyoto, take in top sights like Nishiki Market or Kyoto International Manga Museum, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Karasuma Oike Station or Marutamachi Station.

A traditional Japanese pagoda with a golden finial, surrounded by modern buildings and a tree-lined street.

Karasuma

Karasuma is popular for its popular shops. Explore top sights like Nishiki Market and Kyoto Shinkyogoku Shopping Street, and you can get around town on the metro at Karasuma Oike Station.

 

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Day trip destinations from Kyoto Prefecture

A traditional multi-tiered pagoda with green and red roofs.

Kyoto

A distillery with large barrels labeled "Whisky Distillery" and "Pot Still Whisky" on display.

Shimamoto

A stone structure with circular depressions in a forested area.

Muko

A pagoda-style tower with a stepped design, surrounded by gravel, trees, and a red bridge.

Uji

A bustling street with neon signs, a tower, and traditional lanterns.

Osaka

A coastal town with a beach, clear blue waters, and lush green hills.

Miyazu

A river winding through a forested valley with a house on the left bank.

Kameoka

A tree with pink blossoms and a bird perched on a branch.

Hirakata